Store bought bread

[CarolAnn]

This is probably a horrible topic for the food folder that celebrates wholesome good homemade bread but . . . I've got to admit I buy store bought more often than baking my own.

One worry, though . . . has anyone else noticed that store-bought doesn't get moldy any more? And why is that? My own bread will turn green somewhere around the 4th or 5th day, so I usually cut the loaves in half and freeze part. But that store stuff - I've been working on a loaf for 8 or 9 days and it's just as good (relatively speaking!) as it was the day I opened it.

Does that mean that there's so little nutrition that mold won't even eat it? I get whole-grain oat-nut bread & for store bought, it SHOULD be pretty good. Is this stuff even food?

[sbemt456]

Carol Ann I think our bread these days rank up there with Twinkies when it comes to shelf life.
My youngest son bought a loaf of bread (Sara Lee, whole wheat) and had it for 11 months past expiration date and still had no mold or didnt feel dried out. Makes ya wonder what they put in that stuff. I might be bad for me but I like plain white store bought bread for BLT's and PB and J's. Old habits die hard.

Have a great day!

stella

[Shamrock1121]

Great topic :).

There are preservatives in most commercial flour to begin with. Not to mention what's added at the bakery with the other ingredients.

-calcium propionate
-sodium benzoate
-tricalcium phosphate
-BHA
-stabilizers

Even commercial whole wheat flour has added preservatives to aid keeping the wheat germ oil from going rancid quickly and extending the shelf-life, as well as other ingredients.

I can avoid mold growth with an assortment of ingredients in my 100% whole wheat homemade bread made with freshly-milled flour at home.

I use coconut oil as my fat-of-choice, which is anti-microbial, as is agave nectar (or honey), and the addition of chia seed gel. Ascorbic acid aids in maximum moisture and minimum mold count, and should be added to all whole wheat breads to counteract the effects of Glutathione, which is found in wheat germ. About 1/8 t. per loaf.

Not only do these help prevent mold, but they also aid in keeping the homemade breads "fresher" longer. Soft bread even on day 7 - soft enough for a peanut butter sandwich.

Another way to prevent mold on your homemade breads is to keep it in a cool, dry place - but not the refrigerator. Refrigeration is the quickest way to stale bread.

Put homemade bread in a new bag or wrapping, or a used bag that has been cleaned with a mild bleach/water solution (1 quart water/1 t. bleach). High humidity and warm temperatures are made for mold, so don't keep your breads in those conditions, if at all possible.

Make sure your homemade breads are also completely cool before you package them for storage. If you wrap them while still warm, the moisture expelled from the warm loaf will encourage mold growth.

If you keep bread in a plastic bread keeper, wipe it out once a week with the mild bleach water solution to kill mold.

If you don't like to use bleach, Grapefruit Seed Extract is an excellent second choice.

-Karen

[CarolAnn]

Wow - thanks, Karen! I didn't know I could make my homemade bread last longer that way!

And Stella - a loaf of bread still soft after 11 months IS scary! :) I've got to admit a rare but real twinkie craving, even though they have a 27 year shelf life!

[Klapton]

Wow - thanks, Karen! I didn't know I could make my homemade bread last longer that way!

And Stella - a loaf of bread still soft after 11 months IS scary! :) *I've got to admit a rare but real twinkie craving, even though they have a 27 year shelf life!

Not to burst your bubble, but...

Three-year-old Twinkie Taste Test (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_ZG5wCsSdw)

If you'd like to make your OWN... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yeyy4mQoes&feature=related)[/quote] *(I've been thinking of making some whole-grain Twinkies, hehe.)

[CarolAnn]

Klapton - I don't have sound, but that video clip still made me laugh until tears rolled - I kept expecting the guy to gasp, grasp his throat and fall to the floor after he actually ATE a piece of that dried up old twinkie! ;D

And my favorite part of Wall-E was when Wall-E fed his pet cockroach a 700 year old twinkie!